TTB vs Solid Axle
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TTB vs Solid Axle
I got a 96 F-150 with the TTB front end set up. Can i lift my TTB and have the same results as a solid axle? Im looking for alot of flex, thats my main concern. Which lift kits would be best for this? Also, if i were to keep the TTB, what is the biggest tire size that i can run on it and still go wheelin up in tellico and place like that. And for that tire size, what would be the best gearing for them.
Thanks,
Will
Thanks,
Will
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Fredericton NB, Canada
Can you lift a TTB axle as high as a solid one? Yes. But you will break so much more stuff wheeling it. You can get just as much articulation from a TTB as a solid axle (IMO), but again, strength is an issue. BTW 35's would be as high as I would go on a TTB that see's the dirt/rocks etc...
-Matt
-Matt
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Spokane, WA
I disagree on articulation of a TTB being equal to that of a solid axle. With TTB you're pivoting from the center of the truck, whereas with a solid axle you're pivoting from the opposite side spring. The only advantage they have is being able to soak up bumps and jumps a bit better.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: GANS
I'll throw my opinion in:
You'll get more flex from a ttb (ie wheel travel or droop).
You'll get more forced articulation from a solid axle (ie, one side up, the other gets forced down) since TTBs does not provide any forced articulation.
If you are just going mud bogging and on some trail rides, TTB is the ticket. you have it, it is already setup for a decent amount of flex from the factory (not to mention it rides as good as a 2wd), and you probably won't break very many parts (until you apply a heavy foot with big block style power).
If you plan on going a little rough (ie tellico / jellico) like fishie does, you'll probably want to skip the whole Dana 44 SAS and go directly to a Dana 60.
If you are somewhere in between, a Dana 44 SAS will do quite nicely. We (on the Offroad forum) don't recommend any swap kits as they are $$$$ and most parts can be obtained from a '76-'79 F150 (or a extended cab F150 if you want to go with leaf springs). If you don't have any good fab skills or any good tools to work with (ie welder, torch, etc), you'll probably be better to stick with the TTB.
You'll get more flex from a ttb (ie wheel travel or droop).
You'll get more forced articulation from a solid axle (ie, one side up, the other gets forced down) since TTBs does not provide any forced articulation.
If you are just going mud bogging and on some trail rides, TTB is the ticket. you have it, it is already setup for a decent amount of flex from the factory (not to mention it rides as good as a 2wd), and you probably won't break very many parts (until you apply a heavy foot with big block style power).
If you plan on going a little rough (ie tellico / jellico) like fishie does, you'll probably want to skip the whole Dana 44 SAS and go directly to a Dana 60.
If you are somewhere in between, a Dana 44 SAS will do quite nicely. We (on the Offroad forum) don't recommend any swap kits as they are $$$$ and most parts can be obtained from a '76-'79 F150 (or a extended cab F150 if you want to go with leaf springs). If you don't have any good fab skills or any good tools to work with (ie welder, torch, etc), you'll probably be better to stick with the TTB.
Its Comin Right for us!
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: GA
its just a shame to waste money on a ttb lift if your considering a solid axle now....you wont get but a fraction out of it when you swap to sfa.
and most people run i beam drop brackets with their ttb lifts....and i have seen a bunch broken or cracked at the frame with light wheeling. hell cutts broke his whole crossmember in half on his 93 just playing in the mud around the house(with my encouragement of course)
and most people run i beam drop brackets with their ttb lifts....and i have seen a bunch broken or cracked at the frame with light wheeling. hell cutts broke his whole crossmember in half on his 93 just playing in the mud around the house(with my encouragement of course)
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: nebraska
Did you guys know that Ford had TTB axles on the 350 up until 1985 then went solid axle on the 350s from 85 on up. My guess is the 350 was to big of a truck with its heavy loads for TTB. Any thoughts here.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Southwest VA.
I have a few thoughts....
While a TTB is not an ideal axle for off-roading, it is fairly stout in its element. I have a dana 50 TTB under the front of my F-250 (which weighs in at over 6,440lbs) and I've launched it over some truely baja style jumps with not failures thus far; that was around the 100,000mile mark, I just turned over 200K. This was with a 2.5" suspension lift and 33's. This truck is my tow rig now, but does see some light wheeling, i.e. dunes, some mud, and just blasting around logging roads and such. The one thing that I like about TTB is that it rides nicely, and with the stiff springs I have my F-250 dang near out corners a buddies camero (well, not quite, but the cornering abilities are quite impressive). For a DD rig that will see some minor trial duty, I think TTB is more than suffiecient. If you want to go to tellico and thrash the hell out of it, you want to RTI in the 1,000 range, or you want run tires bigger than 35's, ditch the TTB.
While a TTB is not an ideal axle for off-roading, it is fairly stout in its element. I have a dana 50 TTB under the front of my F-250 (which weighs in at over 6,440lbs) and I've launched it over some truely baja style jumps with not failures thus far; that was around the 100,000mile mark, I just turned over 200K. This was with a 2.5" suspension lift and 33's. This truck is my tow rig now, but does see some light wheeling, i.e. dunes, some mud, and just blasting around logging roads and such. The one thing that I like about TTB is that it rides nicely, and with the stiff springs I have my F-250 dang near out corners a buddies camero (well, not quite, but the cornering abilities are quite impressive). For a DD rig that will see some minor trial duty, I think TTB is more than suffiecient. If you want to go to tellico and thrash the hell out of it, you want to RTI in the 1,000 range, or you want run tires bigger than 35's, ditch the TTB.
Last edited by IB Tim; Sep 29, 2005 at 10:05 PM.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: nebraska
Good postBig Block 250. Those TTBs are pretty tough. Sorry for making it sound like it wasnt. Welcome to the site man. One heck off a truck you got there.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Southwest VA.
lol, thanks, but actually I've been on the site for a couple of years now under the SN BigBlockF-250. I lost my password and my e-mail server got corrupted so I had to create a new SN.
The TTB's are indeed tough, however they do start to show weaknesses when run with over 35" tires. Also alignment can be hell on these axles as it seems to be constantly changing. After several years of fighting it I finally got mine dailed in to where its not eating tires every 15,000miles; however the built 460 and my heavy right foot seem to eat rear tires about that fast, so I guess it really doesn't matter
The TTB's are indeed tough, however they do start to show weaknesses when run with over 35" tires. Also alignment can be hell on these axles as it seems to be constantly changing. After several years of fighting it I finally got mine dailed in to where its not eating tires every 15,000miles; however the built 460 and my heavy right foot seem to eat rear tires about that fast, so I guess it really doesn't matter
Last edited by IB Tim; Sep 29, 2005 at 10:06 PM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Illinois
im actually in the process of buying an 83 ford 1 ton, just for a muddin truck, itll never see the road or be street legal. i wanna put around 10" of lift on it. would it have a ttb front axle? if it is im planning on converting it to a straight axle. this truck will have plenty of redneck engineering involved in building it.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Coutts Canada
Yeah that 83 will be a TTB. the dana 50 version.
Anyway heres my take on the ttb vs solid axle. TTB's are great for any type of high speed offroading (ie prerunners), but for things like mud bogs/drags, their design isn't that great, however for things that involve high shock loads (like rockcrawling, and prerunners again), the ttb will kick the snot out of any solid axle truck and the tru ifs (ie fixed front differential) equiped truck. As far as the force articulation, well there are ways around that too, if you know a thing or to about hydraulics this is a breeze. Essentialy set the hydraulic rams up for use as a shock, but pump in fluid so that you can control the height of each tire (same as what alot of the lowriders cars that use hydraulics are setup ).
OR you can get creativative with a bunch of linkages and make a force articulated suspenion (i have seen this down offroad along with the hydrualic idea, and they both worked extremely well).
Thats it for now folks
.
Anyway heres my take on the ttb vs solid axle. TTB's are great for any type of high speed offroading (ie prerunners), but for things like mud bogs/drags, their design isn't that great, however for things that involve high shock loads (like rockcrawling, and prerunners again), the ttb will kick the snot out of any solid axle truck and the tru ifs (ie fixed front differential) equiped truck. As far as the force articulation, well there are ways around that too, if you know a thing or to about hydraulics this is a breeze. Essentialy set the hydraulic rams up for use as a shock, but pump in fluid so that you can control the height of each tire (same as what alot of the lowriders cars that use hydraulics are setup ).
OR you can get creativative with a bunch of linkages and make a force articulated suspenion (i have seen this down offroad along with the hydrualic idea, and they both worked extremely well).
Thats it for now folks
.
Its Comin Right for us!
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From: GA
your saying ttb will kick the snot out of a sfa in rock crawling???
for anything but jumping.......ttb SUCKS!!!! especially the leaf sprung dana 50 ttb....leaf springs arent made to move in that range of motion.
for anything but jumping.......ttb SUCKS!!!! especially the leaf sprung dana 50 ttb....leaf springs arent made to move in that range of motion.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Spokane, WA
Originally Posted by mustange70
however for things that involve high shock loads (like rockcrawling, and prerunners again), the ttb will kick the snot out of any solid axle truck
Show me anyone who's got a serious rockcrawler that's running TTB. Better yet show me anyone who's spaking solid axle rockcrawlers with a TTB. They're good for jumps and that's about it, tough truck/prerunner is the only application where I think a TTB would be the ideal choice.
.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Spokane WA
I like the TTB
If you want to run tires bigger than 35's and more than 6" lift a TTB is NOT the front axle you want. A lot of people would be surprized just how far into the woods 35's and 6" will get you. A solid axle 60 is stonger than any TTB, and anyone that doesn't agree has been smoking some serious Cronic, but I'm not convinced that a solid 44 is any stronger. My bronco is getting a TTB50 when it gets redone and I doubt I'll break it. I managed to break just about everything except the TTB44.
If you want to run tires bigger than 35's and more than 6" lift a TTB is NOT the front axle you want. A lot of people would be surprized just how far into the woods 35's and 6" will get you. A solid axle 60 is stonger than any TTB, and anyone that doesn't agree has been smoking some serious Cronic, but I'm not convinced that a solid 44 is any stronger. My bronco is getting a TTB50 when it gets redone and I doubt I'll break it. I managed to break just about everything except the TTB44.